Kassina maculata
Kassina maculata
Kassina maculata ( also referred to as redshank - spot Frog, Rotbeiniger racing frog, Rotschenkelfrosch, spotted racing frog spot frog, stains racing frog and Rotbeiniger leopard frog ) is a reed frog, the inner sides of the limbs, as indicated by the trivial names are colored red.
Features
Kassina maculata is one of the major representatives of the reed frogs, the males can reach a length of 55-65 mm. The skin is smooth, the abdominal warty, rounded snout. The back is gray with black, oval, thin -rimmed bright spots, belly whitish, sometimes with dark spots. The inner sides of the limbs, groin and armpits are bright red with black spots. The finger and toe discs are clearly visible and wider than the diameter of the Subarticulartuberkel ( seated under the joints tubercle / Mute ) The eyes have a vertical pupil.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Kassina macualata ranges in eastern Africa from witu on the Kenyan coast south through Tanzania and Mozambique to KwaZulu -Natal in eastern South Africa. In the heart of Africa the distribution area of eastern Zimbabwe and the eastern Swaziland extends into southern Malawi. Also on Zanzibar gets in their way. Kassina macualata is generally a lowland inhabitants, comes in Bvumba in Zimbabwe but also to heights of 1,400 meters before.
The habitat of Kassina macualata is the savanna, grassland and bushland and dominantly agricultural area.
Way of life
Since reed frogs are like most amphibians, nocturnal, they go only at night to hunt for small insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, bugs, wax moths and insect larvae and flies. In the summer months a 2-3 month dry season takes place. After the first lush rain when the humidity rises to about 90%, the males are ready to mate and begin their loud " quoick " noises to intimidate rivals and attract females.
Oviposition takes place preferably in large, well vegetated, temporary and permanent waters. The eggs are attached to submerged plants. The tadpoles are having a length of 13 cm ( 4 cm 9 cm plus tail) quite large. Her tail is high, but not so high as in Kassina senegalensis.
Endangering
Due to the wide distribution, tolerance of different habitats and probably a large collection, classifies the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) Kassina maculata as a non- endangered ( Least Concern LC).